Bob Mueller finally caught up with Bob Bolus. Last Friday, the special prosecutor investigating Russian meddling in American politics indicted 16 Russian nationals and groups on charges of conspiring to defraud the United States.
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Mike Kimsey, of Stroudsburg, lowers his hook and bait into the hole of the ice, while ice fishing with some friends at Tobyahnna State Park on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014. Jason Farmer / Staff Photographer

Latest Weather:

Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around -5. Wind chill values as low as -25. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

Tuesday Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 10. Wind chill values as low as -28. West wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around -1. Wind chill values as low as -16. West wind 9 to 14 mph.

Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 20. Wind chill values as low as -15. West wind around 8 mph.

Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30.

Thursday Night A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

While rain fell on leftover piles of slush and snow still crowding the roads of Northeast Pennsylvania this weekend, snow removal and safety agencies braced for a possibly record-breaking deep freeze on its way to the area.

A "rapid freeze-up" is headed our way this afternoon, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Carl Erickson predicted, noting temperatures will plunge from around 40 degrees into the low 20s, steadily falling overnight until Tuesday morning, when temperatures reach their coldest at 2 degrees below zero - which would break the record for Scranton for Jan. 7, which is 3 degrees, set in 1988.

Calling this week's cold snap "intense but brief," Mr. Erickson said that while temperatures will not climb higher than 4 degrees Tuesday with gusty winds making the air feel closer to 20 or 30 degrees below zero, temperatures will warm up throughout the remainder of the week.

He said to expect temperatures in the upper teens on Wednesday, a high near 30 on Thursday and approaching 40 degrees on Friday.

Ready.gov - a government website launched by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency - offers specific instructions on how to prepare for bitter cold temperatures.

In advance of early Tuesday's frigid temperatures, Ready highlights listening to local weather forecasts, minimizing travel and bringing pets indoors as keys to being prepared for the worst.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have similar steps posted on its website, although extra emphasis is placed on caring for the elderly.

"Older people are more susceptible to health problems caused by cold," the CDC said. "If you are over 65 years old, place an easy-to-read thermometer in an indoor location where you will see it frequently."

If you must leave your residence, Ready.gov lists mittens, a hat and a scarf as proper apparel for the cold.

The agency states, "Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing."

State Department of Transportation spokesman James May said roadwise, "This type of storm is the most difficult to treat. ... Once the temperature gets below 22 degrees, salt will not melt the ice."

Rather than salting the roads, PennDOT crews will focus on plowing all roads close enough to the pavement to use anti-skid treatments, Mr. May said. Those crews spent Sunday evening preparing bridges and roads for the potential of icy conditions overnight with an eye on today's forecast.

This winter has already proven worse than anticipated, Mr. May said. Snow accumulation last week depleted Lackawanna County's snow removal budget to around 50 percent of where it started on Nov. 1. "This year has been a much rougher winter so far than it was last year, that's for sure," he said.

Michael Troianiello, owner of Troianiello Masonry and Construction Services Inc. in Scranton, which offers snow removal services for commercial and residential properties, said his staff worked around the clock during last week's storm, and would be ready to do so again this week if needed.

Ready or not, Mr. Troianiello said back-to-back winter weather issues take a toll on his staff and equipment.

"I come home, take a small break and go right back out," he said. "It takes a toll on your body and on your vehicle."

Meanwhile, PennDOT has received multiple calls about another complication of "dramatic temperature changes:" potholes, Mr. May said.

"The freeze-thaw cycle causes havoc on the roads," he said. "You can't pave in the winter, you can fix it with a cold patch. Right now the emphasis is on keeping the roads passable."

Staff writer Matt Bufano contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: sscinto@timesshamrock.com. @sscintoTT on Twitter

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